When I turned 40 my wife arranged for my first 'old man' physical. You know, the prostate check, the rubber glove, the works. This I expected. What I didn't expect was for a blood test to show an elevated TSH level and a hand-written note from my doctor on my chart that said "possible Hashimoto's Thyroiditis", and a prescription of Levothyroxine. I found this somewhat alarming. Since I take my health seriously and never blindly take the word of a health-care professional, off I went to consult "doctor Google". (A follow-up consult with my doctor required another office, the next available time was 3 weeks later...) What I found online was a wealth of information about iodine and thyroid health from a book by Dr. Brownstein, "Iodine, why you need it, why you can't live without it". I read this book and others, and decided to begin taking Iodoral iodine.

I gradually ramped up my Iodoral intake from 12.5 mg per day to 50 mg per day over roughly 3 weeks. About the second day of taking 50 mg/day of Iodoral, everything seemed to come apart. My neck (thyroid) swelled into what I could only find described as "swollen glottis", I started to develop lesions on my face and hands, and I experienced severe joint pain and stiffness. The swelling in my neck was severe enough that swallowing was difficult, as was breathing when I laid on my back. I found these symptoms to be somewhat alarming and briefly considered visiting the emergency room. According to my family doctor I had embarked down the path of insanity, so instead of visiting the emergency room I decided to keep chasing the white rabbit. Off to consult Dr. Google once again.

What I found was a disturbingly relevant account of similar symptoms on http://breastcancerchoices.org, under the Iodine tab, in an article titled "Bromide Dominance Theory", and the related "Salt Loading Protocol" to combat the rapid onset of the symptoms of bromine poisoning. The theory is that bromine, acquired from some soft drinks, some Gatorade, pastries, swimming pools and hot tubs, deposits in the thyroid and other places in the endocrine system (for a woman, the mammary glands), and gradually degrades the performance of these glands and causes a range of health problems culminating in cancer.

So, at the age of 40, I had convinced myself that I was a pre-cancerous woman. Well, maybe not, but the symptoms of bromine toxicity after taking iodine seemed somewhat correlated symptoms that seem to be more commonly experienced by women with breast cancer. What if by chance an erroneous interpretation of a thyroid test inspired me to take iodine that by chance brought to light a real thyroid problem caused by a lifetime of exposure to brominated foods?

I've been taking iodine for 3 years now. Here's what's happened: increased energy, stamina, curiosity, and memory. After following the salt loading protocol from the above website for a few days, the swollen glottis symptom diminished and have never returned. When I stop taking iodine and my regular dose of vitamins, minerals and Omega-3 fish oils, I feel like a wilted flower within a few days.

I've left out a lot of details in my account of thyroid health, iodine and bromine, but I hope this story inspires others to not blindly trust a numbers-only approach to health. Nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, genetics and family history all tell one important story - the story of _your_ health. I'm beginning to wonder if it's possible to receive effective health care without considering all the pieces of the picture.I've been fortunate to know Dr. Genchi. His holistic approach to alternative medicine and his interest in the entire picture of his patient's health is, in my opinion, a much more productive approach than the 'by-the-numbers' approach of so many others.Dan Doner, dddoner@yahoo.com

Health Coach Needed:Yes our 5 & 1 meals substitution program is so effective we are in need of health coaches. As a health coach you will be fully trained to properly answer questions and concerns your Take Shape for Life clients will have along their journey to a healthy weight. As you know optimal health starts with a healthy weight. If you enjoy having a meaningful contribution to someones health, a friend or family member or even a person you know from your work who has been struggling with reaching a healthy weight then this opportunity may be for you. Review the information on the web site link --> www.rightweightnow.tsfl.com/bizand please feel free to call me or Cheryl with your questions. Our contact information is available on the site.Happy St. Patrick's Day! Better together,

YES is the right answer which I am sure you know.Many studies show that the 'Good' fats in fish have a wide positive influence on our general health. Studies show that ingestion of EPA has, in some patients, more effective improvement for depression than medical antidepressant medication. Sixty nine percent of the patient receiving 1 gram of EPA daily had a 50% reduction in depression symptoms. Higher doses did not seem to improve the benefits. In a study of 1600 elderly people in France Pascale Barberger-Gateau, PhD, found people who ate fish or other type of seafood at least once a week were 34% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or any other form of dementia. A correlation was noted, those with higher education were the ones eating the most seafood and a further 7% reduction of risk.Omega 3 fish oil's have been show to inhibit the activity of aggrecanes enzymes involved in the breaking down of joint tissue.This information is intended to empower you to make the lifestyle changes appropriate for you and your family. I hope it helps.Of note the Omega-3 fish oils blocked/inhibited the activity COX-2, much like the prescription drug Celebrex. Omega-6 have NO effect on COX-2. Better together,Victor J. Genchi, D.D.S., M.D.References:Proceeding of nutrition Society, 2002;61:381-389Archives of General Psychiatry, 2002;59:913-919British Medical Journal, 2002;325:932-933

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​As a practicing Internal medicine physician, the trends that patients have chosen indicate the desire for Natural healthcare options is at the top of their list.It has always been a passion of mine to use 'common sense' lifestyle improvements as a first step on the path to Optimum health. That being said I will dedicate as much of the blog and pages of this sit to pointing out suggestions as we step along the path to OPTIMAL HEALTH together. All the best,​Dr G

How Can Information on Functional Medicine, Nutritional Intervention and lifestyle--> Improve the quality of your life, Physically, Mentally and Financially! How can we get there if we don't know where we are going?